African Anglican leaders review gay stance

African Anglican archbishops met in Kenya today to review their position on gays in the clergy, an issue that divided the church last year.

“The primates are meeting to strengthen Africa’s position,” on whether homosexuals should be ordained, said a church official.

Deep divisions spread throughout the world’s Anglicans last August when US Episcopalians elected an openly gay bishop, Gene Robinson.

After the Diocese of New Hampshire consecrated Robinson four months later, several African Anglican churches severed ties with the diocese. All African churches – except those in South Africa – have opposed the ordination of homosexuals.

A commission formed by Anglican leaders in a bid to resolve the dispute is scheduled to report back to church leaders in October.

The worldwide Anglican Communion, a group of 37 independent national churches that trace their roots to the Church of England, has 76.5 million members, 36.8 million of whom are African.

The African primates will hold talks with their Asian, Caribbean and Latin American counterparts in Nairobi tomorrow.